A Cicada Emerges. Hope Rises.

Yesterday the kids and I watched a cicada emerge out of it's shell. I know they're kind of ugly looking things, but the process is absolutely amazing! While we were playing outside, we kept running back to it's place on the wall, to see it's progress.

When the first half breaks through, the wings look like tiny shriveled clumps. Gradually they expand. When they are fully stretched, they look like large, translucent shields. Gorgeous veins run through to the tips.


About an hour later, we checked on it again. It was still there...clinging to it's old shell. This image struck me funny. A being who has large, perfect wings...clinging to it's lifeless old self. I immediately thought of the verse, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

I actually got excited. I felt hope rush through me. I've been made new! The places where I feel stuck, where I'm trying to change myself, it's not going to happen if I'm clinging to my old self. It's only going to happen if I choose to believe my Creator.  
Do I believe the wings he gave me actually work or not?

This is a GREAT promise...
His divine power has granted to me all things that pertain to life and godliness...by which He has granted to me His precious and very great promises, so that through them I may become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.    (adapted from 2 Peter 1:3,4 ESV)

I can partake of the DIVINE nature through His promises! I can live supernaturally! I want to live in the power He has granted me.

Faith is believing Him. If I can trust Him...believe that He keeps His promises...then I can let go of myself. I can live differently. I can fly.

Undaunted

I hope that God will use these words to stir up love and good works in your heart (Heb. 10:24).

(If receiving this via email, click on the title of this post to view the video.)


I haven't read her book, but it sounds good. Here's a link to it: Undaunted

The Impossible Life

I don't want to plan my life according to "my abilities". I want to continually follow Jesus into the unknown, unfamiliar paths, living by faith. He is strong in my weaknesses. He is glorified abundantly in the impossible. He delights in using "the least".

The more inadequate I am, the nearer I'm drawn to Him. I see the frailness of my humanity and the awesome immeasurable power of the Almighty God. He is my Father who is intimately acquainted with the details of my little life, aware of everything. There have been times when He seemed to be deaf to my cry. But then, in His perfect timing, He revealed Himself. Powerfully. Undeniably. Not because I'm important, but because He is that awesome. I don't doubt Him anymore. I try not to limit Him in my life.

That's why I don't want to put restrictions on His plans for me...live according to my abilities and strengths. His power is made perfect in weakness. The more "impossible" my life becomes, the more I recognize His hand in it. I don't want to shy away from His plans for me. Fear will have to flee!

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10 ESV)

(Photo credit: Rachel Ranae)